Connections Podcast

Lawmakers in Albany want you to be able to bet on sports in New York State, as long as it’s not online or via a mobile platform. In-person sports betting is allowed at some upstate casinos, but Cuomo says mobile sports betting doesn’t provide a strong revenue stream for the state and would require a constitutional amendment to be legal. Critics say he’s trying to push business to the state’s struggling casinos. This hour, we discuss the potential impact of mobile sports betting from different

What is the difference between parody and satire? The line between the two is often blurred, but both can be effective tools in making social and political commentary. This hour, our guests discuss how to distinguish parody from satire and how both are being used – successfully or unsuccessfully – in the current comedy landscape. In studio: Beth Winslow , actor, comedian, and member of the sketch comedy group Thank You Kiss David Abdoch , stand-up comedian Scott Pukos, public relations

Democrats control New York State politics, and with a new budget, they’ve made some strong statements on taxes. In particular, the political left (ranging from DSA to the Green Party to various coalitions) have called for the state to raise taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers. Democrats declined to do so, saying it would have negative consequences. Our guests discuss tax fairness, and how to fund priorities: Michael Kink , executive director of the Strong Economy for All Coalition Jeremy Cooney

The One Take Film Festival is coming back for its third year. This hour, we get a preview of the line-up and discuss two of the documentaries highlighted in the festival. "Midnight Traveler" follows an Afghan family as they flee their country after the Taliban puts a bounty on the head of the family, film director Hassan Fazili. We talk about their journey, the dangers faced by refugees, and the process used to make the film. We also discuss "Jawline," a documentary that follows a teenager in

Are construction workers paid fairly in New York State? The legislature has been debating the so-called “prevailing wage.” Non-union workers and business leaders have warned that expanding the prevailing wage will cripple businesses that want to expand, while stalling the clean energy industry. Union leaders have joined many Democrats in calling for more wage protections, arguing that the business community always claims the sky is falling when they have to pay people a little bit more. Our

Weekend Connections is a collection of some of the most noteworthy moments from the week on Connections with Evan Dawson. This episode includes conversations about: The novel, "American War," and the complexity of terrorism; LGBTQ rights in America 50 years since the Stonewall Riots; How gender, sexuality, and religion intersect with climate change; The connection between jazz culture and social justice.

When we ask how much screen time is too much for kids, we're often thinking about screen time at home -- whether it's TV, videos games, or social media. But what about screen time at school? An increasing number of schools are incorporating devices into their lesson plans. Should that screen time factor into overall limits for children? What's the difference between leisure screen time and screen time for education? Our guests discuss those questions and more. In studio: Dr. Steve Cook, M.D. ,

In recent weeks, we've heard from a number of listeners who say they are changing their personal habits in an effort to help combat climate change. Many of those habits relate to garbage -- both at home, and at work or school. This hour, we discuss what we collect as garbage, what we throw away, what we recycle, and what we try to reuse. Our guests share their ideas for how to reduce the amount of trash heading to landfills. In studio: Kimberly Connolly, executive director of Rochester

There’s a “perfect storm” threatening young, homeless people, according to a member of Rochester City Council. Elaine Spaull has decided not to seek reelection, and part of her decision stems from a desire to help young parents facing homelessness. As the executive director of the Center for Youth , Spaull says she sees young people struggle to find shelter and other resources in an environment where agencies are closing their programs or facing financial challenges. Her dream is to establish

The suburbs are often left out of conversations about modernizing transportation systems and environmental goals. But as City Lab recently pointed out, more than half of all Americans live in suburbs, and the burbs are here to stay. So what are the options for making suburbs more suitable to multimodal options and green goals? Our guests debate it. In studio: Arian Horbovetz , creator of The Urban Phoenix Renée Stetzer , president of Reconnect Rochester